The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-08
A MYSTERIOUS MURDER.
THE MANGLED REMAINS OF A
GIRL FOUND IN THE WOODS.

Farmer Carter Discovers a Decaying
Body Near Burnside Station - A
Broken Gun Tells the Tale of How
She Died-Her Identity a Mystery
No Clue to the Murderer-A Foul
Crime Cruelty Perpetrated.
A murder that may rival the famous
Railway case in righteousness has just
come to light, and the fact was made known
by the finding of the mutlated and partly
decomposed body of young girl in the
woods, about mile and n half from Burn
side station, on the City and Suburban rail
road yesterday afternoon. At present the
whole affair is shrouded in mystery, and
thus it has become the theme Of every
tongue in the neighborhCod, and young
men, as well as old women, remained awake
last night to talk the matter over, wonder
who the murdered girl was, and finally to
go to sleep as much mystitied as ever. All
that is known in the neighborhood is that a
poor young girls life has been foully taken,
but whats her name or where's her home"
they cannot tell.
CARRIERS CHASTITY DISCOVERY.
Conductor Rain, of the City and Su-
burban line, brought to the city last night
the first news of the finding of the body.
1t seems that farmer named Carter, who
lives near by, went out into the woods to
gather pine straw. While engaged in that
work his attention was attracted by
peculiarly offensive smell He noticed it at
the time, but thought that some common
animal must have died in the vicinity, and
he did not pay much attention
to it, Moving around, however, be reached
a spot where the odor was so exceedingly
offensive that it excited his curiosity and he
began to look for the cause. He hunted
around for some time, but failing TO find
anything he started back to his
work, when his eye was attracted
by something white showing through
the bushes He made his way through
the BUSH and when he reached the
object that had attracted his attention he
stood dumbfounded and stupefed. He saw
before him the body of a young woman,
but it was so disfgured and so badly decom-
posed that it was almost beyond recogn-
milton.
THE WEAPON USED.
For long time Mr.. Carter was too much
surprised to move, but at last regaining his
self possession he began an investigation.
Mr.. Carter knows every one in the vicinity,
and he looked at the face to see if he could
recognize any of his acquaintance. The
features were much disfigured by decom.
position, but he soon satisfied himself that
the woman had never lived in that vicinity
He looked about him and his eye fell upon
a muslSet. Upon examining it he dis
covered that it was an old one,
but it had been broken recently,
near the breech, and it did not take him
long TO reach the conclusions that the mus
ket was the weapon used to take the
poor girls life, though it was used
as a club instead of a gun. A
further search brought to light the
woman's pocket-book, but it contained
only two keys, one small, the other larger
one. He looked around for further evil
dences of the crime but found nothing.,, A
patient search of the grass and bushes
failed to discover anything more that would
throw light upon the mystery
CRUELTY BEATEN TO DEATH
He then ma an examination of the |
bruises upon the girls head, and found that |
her skull was beaten in and both her jaw
bones broken. The wounds were of such a
nature that, with the gun lying
beside her, it was apparent,
and beyond doubt, that the
Reusket was the weapon used in inf1icting
them. Mr.. Carter then left the scene of the
crime and rode into Burnside. He stated !
that as near as he could judge the girl was
between 16 and IS years of age, Her dress
was plain, but the cloth was of a good |
texture, and the garment was nicely made |
He tried to form a correct idea of what her |
features were in order that he might give |
description, but was unable to do So He |
noticed however, that her hair was neatly |
plated down her back, denoting that she |
was still girl. He did not examine her |
clothing, and therefore is unable to state |
whether there are upon it any marks that |
would lead to Identification, and unless the |
Coroner's investigation this morning dis |
closed some marks upon the clothing, who |
the girl is will probably remain a mystery |
for some time.
WHO Is SHE?
No one is missing from the neighborhood,
nor have there been any inquiries either at
Burnside or in Savannah for a missing girl
That she was not a resident in the vicinity
is almost a certainty, for it is hardly
possibility that any girl should
have been missing for SO long
time as she must have been without her alb
sence becoming known. The condition of
the body proves that the murder was COM
mitted certainly not less than two weeks
ago, and the disappearance of girl of
her age could not have been kept
secret for so long, even had
the attempt been made, which is
not likely, for parents could not conceal the
fact They would have sought the aid of
the police, and of their friends, to find out
where she had gone, and thus the matter
would have come to light but nothing of
that kind has been heard of or in
timated. Dozens of persons were asked
last night whether they had heard
of the disappearance of any one, but
nothing could be learned. The girls identity
is as dark a mystery as is that of the perpe-
TRAITOR of the crime.
NO CLUE TO THE MURDERER.
The only thing that is likely to throw
light upon the identity of the murder